Writing focus at Saddle Mountain
MATTAWA — The second-week winners of the Saddle Mountain Elementary March Writing Focus have been announced, and there were eight.
The test is probably not easy, and it may be nerve-wracking. The students write and essay to Principal Langdon.
Langdon and vice principal Jennifer Kraley are joining efforts with teachers to provide fun incentives for students who demonstrate excellence in their writing for the entire month of March.
For the entire week, students are encouraged to write to Langdon on their free time and after school. At the end of the week, students drop their writing in the principal’s mailbox.
“This year, thanks to our sponsors, a few students at each grade level are able to choose gift cards to Rollarena, Kennewick Buffalo Wild Wings, Tri-Cities Dickey’s Barbecue and Chipotle,” Langdon said. “And the student with the very best essay to the principal is rewarded with a pizza party to bring to his or her classroom.”
All of the finalists, a total of 18 students, will win a special grand prize, an all-expenses-paid trip to Triple Play Idaho, thanks to Triple Play and the SME Parent Teacher Organization.
There will be a leadership and student recognition assembly on March 31. The first-place winners will read their polished essays to a full crowd of students, family and community members.
In his essay, fifth-grade winner Kenneth Barrera wrote: “Children who eat breakfast do better in school. Skipping breakfast makes it harder to think. You are too hungry.”
Second-grade winner Delson Christensen wrote: “I like scrambled eggs for breakfast. I especially like them with ham and cheese. I like to add a lot of hot sauce to make my eggs spicier.”
Third-grade winner Camila Pastrana wrote: “It is a good idea to eat breakfast because it gives you energy... One time I didn’t eat breakfast. I was really tired. I could not run.”
Third-grade winner Diego Mendoza wrote: “Let’s say there were two boys named Jack and Damian. Damian would get an A on his test because he ate breakfast to help him concentrate. Jack would get a D- cause he didn’t eat breakfast, so he can’t concentrate.”
Fifth-grade winner Mayra Moran wrote: “One reason you should eat breakfast is because the article (the students read) says test scores of children who do not eat breakfast are lower than those who eat breakfast.”
Fourth-grade winner Elizabeth Garcia wrote: “In conclusion, I think breakfast is really important because it’s the first meal of the day, and if you don’t eat breakfast, you can get really sick.”
Third-grade winner Emily Miranda wrote: “Some parents just drink coffee in the morning, which is technically showing a bad example for their kids.”
Second-grader Kaitlyn Price wrote: “My favorite breakfast is apples because apples are good for your body. My second favorite is eggs because it is protein. My third favorite is sausage because it is yummy.”